Oz, Pak to contest first ever night Test

Australia and Pakistan are all set to make history by becoming the first cricket teams to play a night Test next November in Adelaide.

According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph, Cricket Australia (CA) will soon seek the International Cricket Council's approval for holding the match that will have a 1400hrs (local time) start.

"Test cricket is our premium form of the game so why (not) play it at a time when most people can watch it? There's no doubt it will happen - people can go after work and it's a cooler time of the day for spectators," CA chief executive James Sutherland said.

"The Olympics, the NRL and the AFL ... much of it is played at night because it's a more convenient time for viewers and fans," he pointed out.

The biggest roadblock in holding the match is the availability of a suitable ball but CA says it will be taken care of by November.

"The white ball for one-day cricket that lasts 50 overs is not suitable," Sutherland said.

Broadcaster Nine Network believes the experiment would be a huge hit and fetch record-breaking TRPs.

"There was a lot of debate about one-day cricket, there was a lot of debate about Twenty20 cricket, but ultimately the paying public and the viewing public (will) make their own decisions ... the punters always win," David Gyngell, chief executive of the Nine Network, said.

Gyngell described the concept as bold and said it would generate a lot of curiosity among the fans.

"I think Adelaide would support it wholeheartedly and I know the viewers will. When Perth Test matches are on and it goes late into the eastern states, you see support in the (viewer) numbers," he added.

Meanwhile, CA spokesman Peter Young said the Board was awaiting a report on the feasibility of introducing special balls for night cricket.

"It has been well publicised that we are very interested in the concept of night cricket. People around the world enjoy watching their sport at night, and we are of the opinion that the time has come for Test cricket to explore new possibilities," he said.